Readout of Chancellor Masrour Barzani’s meeting with Deputy Commanding General of CJTF-OIR

Chancellor Masrour Barzani met today with Deputy Commanding General of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve Major General Walter Piatt and discussed security and political developments in Iraq. They had a candid exchange on ISIL activities in Mosul, Salahaddin, Anbar and Kirkuk in particular, as well as the next phase in the anti-ISIL campaign, including in Syria. On that, Chancellor Barzani said that Kirkuk was safer under Peshmerga control and urged Major General Piatt to use the road map outlined in Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution as a guiding principle. He also raised the importance of aligning political and security efforts to rebuild Peshmerga-ISF trust and achieve a settlement. During the meeting, both officials also expressed concern that ISIL has used Peshmerga-ISF security gaps to increase terrorist activities. Chancellor Barzani reaffirmed KRG’s commitment to the campaign and welcomed coordination with Coalition forces to clear remaining ISIL pockets. Further, Major General Piatt briefed Chancellor Barzani on US-led Coalition training plans for Peshmerga Forces. They agreed to continue their regular consultations on these important issues.

A few words about us

The Kurdistan Region Security Council oversees the intelligence and security community in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and, as of August 2014, coordinates Global Coalition airstrikes against ISIL positions. Its elite CTU forces from the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) conduct joint operations with coalition forces in a campaign targeting senior ISIL members.